Wow! Excellent comments, good advise n tips.  Thanks guys, I greatly appreciate it :-)

I remember at one meeting (back in the late 90's) they did give me an example, gave us a CD to demonstrate: Beat/Rhythm. (I no longer have that CD). The beat was straight out 4x4 Trance, House.


Last night I was thinking about which direction to take:

> If I go the Alt Rock route, when it comes to involving a band? surely I would need 'real' musicians to work with and take it further.   If I go the Electronica (Prg-House, Hip-Hop, IDM) route I could get away with just a few musicians and heavier use of backing sequencer.

I remember watching a documentary about Rock Bands, to cut a long story short... it's a long way to the top if you wanna Rock n Roll (ACDC song).

In that Rock documentary a lot of musicians biggest success didn't come until later in their 40's after many years of sweat and during those years band member(s) come and go, often many disputes, typical band politics occur.

I remember back in the early 80's reading a book about a band being a marriage.

Already I have a manager on my back to get a band together. Sheeeze!!! Give me a heart attack LOL!!

Maybe I'll experiment more with Electronic House, Hip-Hop, IDM, and also film-scoring and jingles compositions.

But still, I want to do a 'fusion' of Old-school Rock with the later (Electronic House, Hip-Hop, IDM). So true the saying... easier said than done.

Once you admit that you write "dated" songs.... that is realization, and you are on the road now to writing more contemporary tunes..... but first you had to admit it..... now you can begin the search for what it takes to write better.....

sad thing is many people never reach this point. they keep writing "bad...dated" songs and blame the industry for not recognizing their talent.....

Whilst I'm confident and believe in myself I am also a major critic of my work. It's like I've gone through phase one, then take a break for a month, come back and move on to the final phase.

I listen to for example 'New Age Rock 'N' Roll' and I think hmmm it's doesn't really have much 'New Age' in it at all. {Doh} it's back to the drawing board!!

Often it's those small changes that make a big difference. For example; Changing the beat and arrangement a little can make a big improvement.

No How


 The more up to date we make our songs today the more they will CERTAINLY be outdated soon, whereas the more heart and soul we pour into the basic song itself, the more certain it will be timeless.   
 
Definately ! Can't go wrong when it's from the heart :)
 

 

   Herb: I agree with what you said.

Also, I've been wanting to say... wish you great success with Taxi, you certainly have the skills and the right attitude.  :-)

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   Agree without doubt that the greatest songs are written from the heart.  This has always been my philosophy, from the time I started playing piano (age 3) and guitar (age 6) my playing is mostly done by ear, I much prefer to play by feel! At times I close my eyes and 'feel' it, if I make a mistake? sometimes it's those mistakes that touch magic.

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   Outside the norm!  Yes! Absolutely, I have been listening to what's out there, recently listening more carefully, venturing outside the norm, thinking outside the square, outside my all too cosy comfort zone....

   I've been so stuck with old-school habits which is OK to get the basic structure of the song down, and especially since I write from 'feel' from the heart, but I also need to venture outside the norm.

   I need to take a leap of faith, put in that extra effort, and since I always keep backup copies of my projects (the original templates, files, midi) surely makes that process easier ;-)

   Again! Thanks everyone for your comments, advise, tips! All greatly appreciated! You guys are awesome. :-)

Thought I'd point out this article from USA today http://www.usatoday.com/life/music/news/2009-12-08-musicdecade08_ST_N.htm about top sales in the last decade.  Eminem #! and the Beatles #2.  I do believe the Beatles are in their own category though, cross generations, genres, ect. 

I think a good song is a good song, but  your odds of making it are increased my making it current.  Certain techniques hold up better over the years than others,

Thanks for posting that article. Quick note: IMHO I think The Beatles sold way more than 30,million, and a they are the most covered band in history!

Been scouting the web, checking out the top list (preferably for 2009)...

  Hip-Hop and IDM examples:

. "Down" Jay Sean

. "Empire State of Mind" Jay-Z and Alicia Keys

. "Beautiful" Eminem

. "444" Autechre

. "They Who Breath Darkness" The Synthetic Dream Foundation

  Alt-Rock examples:

. "If You Only Knew" Shinedown

. "Break" Three Days Grace

. "I Will Not Bow" Breaking Benjamin

  Pop examples:

. "Already Gone" - Kelly Clarkson

. "Firefflies" - Owl City

 Country examples:

. oops! Gotta go.

Not that I'm a big fan of these artists although I do like a few of them, I'm just doing a little research.

I'm not so much into Rap-Vocals, I prefer singing, but I listen to the backing and arrangements mostly!

I've also noticed that Cher-effect and other heavily processed vocal effects are still hanging around the top charts.

If anyone can give more, better examples of Hip-Hop, Progressive-House, IDM, Alt-Rock, Pop, Country please post them. Thanks.

What if you just play our old fashioned music, admit it, rejoice in it, and don't even spend a moment thinking or complaining about the industry?

Is that OK?

Yes! OK I will rejoice :-)

I love to experiment! I love a challenge, without challenges we cannot grow, and the main thing is to have fun. These are great times.